The officer was allegedly working a second job as a private security guard when he stopped Myers and three other pedestrians around 7:30 local time. Witnesses described the encounter as a “pedestrian check,” comparable to the “stop and frisk” policy employed by officers in New York City.

A police spokesperson said Myers ran away from the officer, before struggling with him and allegedly drawing a gun toward him, a claim several witnesses have disputed.

“He was unarmed,” Myers’ cousin, Teyonna Myers, told the Post-Dispatch. “He had a sandwich in his hand, and they thought it was a gun. It’s like Michael Brown all over again.”

The fatal shooting of Brown, who was also 18 years old, by Officer Darren Wilson in nearby Ferguson, Missouri on Aug. 9 sparked protests both locally and around the country. A group of demonstrators interrupted a performance by the St. Louis Symphony to sing a song in Brown’s memory and display a banner bearing his face.

About the Author

Arturo R. García is the managing editor at Racialicious.com. He is based in San Diego, California and has written for both print and broadcast media, including contributions to GlobalComment.com, The Root and Comment Is Free. Follow him on Twitter at @ABoyNamedArt